For preparing for competition

The week before:
Depending on your skin tone, hair color and how you react to different tanning products, I suggest trying out a few before a competition. I find the mystic tans work well. Practice your routines.
Just before:
Make sure you have everything... start at the bottom. Shoes, yes to fishnets, appropriate dance trunks, Dresses, makeup, glitter, hair products... always expect something to go funny and bring safety pins, touch up makeup,bandaids, power bars or munchies, a pen, highlighter to mark your heats in your program, maybe even a spare dress and some comfy clothes for lounging during the breaks.

Good luck and have fun.